Home-style Grillades and Cheese Grits

If you have never had grits before they are like the Southern cousin of polenta.  Usually they are eaten for breakfast or brunch, but when they are served with hearty grillades they are perfect for dinner too.  Tonight we had this classic cajun dish for dinner.  It is spicy and so comforting.  I like to use "quick" grits, not instant.  Lots of recipes I have seen call for using stone ground grits, but the only place I have ever seen them is in gourmet stores and souvenier shops.  So for this home-style recipe, "quick" grits are much more authentic.

Home-style Grillades and Cheese Grits

For the Grillades:

2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 tbs flour

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 onion, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

4 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tsp dried thyme

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 bay leaves

1 28 oz can whole tomatoes, chopped, liquid discarded

3 cups beef stock

2-3 tbs vegetable oil

salt & pepper, to taste

Season the meat with salt and pepper and toss with the flour.  In a large dutch oven over a medium flame add the vegetable oil and brown the meat.  Then add the bell pepper, onion, celery, garlic, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper.  Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.  Saute until the vegetables start to get soft.  Then add the tomatoes and the beef stock.  Cover the pot and let simmer for about 2 hours or until the meat is very tender.  Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

For the Grits:

1 cup quick grits

4 cups whole milk

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1 tsp salt

In a large pot over a medium high flame add the milk and bring to a boil.  Stir the milk constantly to avoid scorching it.  Then whisk in the grits and continue to cook until the thicken.  Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for a about 5 additional minutes.  Whisk in the cheese. 

Serve the grillades over the cheese grits and garnish with a little thinly sliced green onion. 

**This is pretty spicy so if you want yours milder use less cayenne pepper.

You might also be interested in Apple Fritters and Fried Green Tomatoes with Guthrie's Sauce.